Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra

by Helen M. Johnson | 1931 | 742,503 words

This page describes Previous birth of Purushasimha which is the eighth part of chapter V of the English translation of the Shri Dharmanatha-caritra, contained within the “Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra”: a massive Jain narrative relgious text composed by Hemacandra in the 12th century. Shri Dharmanatha in jainism is one of the 63 illustrious beings or worthy persons.

Part 8: Previous birth of Puruṣasiṃha

When sixteen vārdhis (sāgaras) of his life as a god had passed, there was a king, named Vikaṭa, in Potanapura just here (in Bharata). He was conquered on the battle-field by King Rājasiṃha by the strength of his arm, like an elephant by an elephant. From shame at this defeat he gave the kingdom to his son, left, and took the vow at the feet of Atibhūti. He practiced severe penance and made a nidāna: “In another birth may I be able to destroy Rājasiṃha surely.” With such a nidāna having been made, he died in the course of time and was born as chief-god in the second heaven with a life term of two sāgaras.

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